Paul Lee takes home the PBA All-Star Game MVP award after leading Team Japeth over Team Scottie. PBA IMAGES
ILOILO CITY—Bacolod City will be the next host of the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) midseason extravaganza.
Commissioner Willie Marcial revealed that the “City of Smiles” will be the next venue following a pleasant meeting with Mayor Albee Benitez on Saturday night.
The showcase will be held in a yet-to-be-finished arena, the league chief added.
The development comes on the heels of the successful staging of the All-Star revelries in Passi City.
Team Japeth escaped Team Scottie, 140-136, in a thrilling duel that featured some gimmicks, namely the scrubbing of the players’ timeout, a 4-point line, and dunks being made worth three points.
Paul Lee shone the brightest in the contest, pouring 32 points built on a 7-for-13 shooting from the extended marker to emerge as Most Valuable Player in a weekend he also won the 3-Point Contest.
An estimated 4,000 spectators filled the small City of Passi Arena.
Sunday’s event was the first time that the league held an All-Star Weekend. The last time it did was in 2019 in Calasiao, before going into a hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.